I No Longer Have Love to Offer You - Chapter 19

After finishing the fruitcake that had been prepared in advance, Albert excused himself, saying the women likely had much to discuss between themselves.

“Perhaps he’s being considerate,” Pamela remarked, watching Albert’s retreating back.

With the initial excitement of their reunion having settled, Mirabelle and Pamela were enjoying a leisurely moment together.

“You know, I actually wanted to object when you said you were going to marry Lord Ricardo,” Pamela murmured abruptly, as if the memory had just surfaced. Mirabelle’s eyes widened in surprise at this first-time confession.

“I had no idea.”

“Because I never said it.”

Pamela’s gaze grew distant for a moment, as if lost in the past.

What kind of past was reflected in those eyes? Mirabelle studied Pamela, wondering.

“I didn’t believe Lord Ricardo could make you happy. I don’t want to speak ill of your childhood friend, but no matter how I looked at it, I couldn’t see him loving you in that way.”

Clink. Uncharacteristically for Pamela, the sound of her cup rattling against the saucer echoed sharply.

“Lord Ricardo’s attention was always directed elsewhere. You knew that too, didn’t you?”

“Yes, I did. But back then, I still wanted to believe in him.”

A pang of that old heartache resurfaced, and Mirabelle unconsciously pressed a hand to her chest.

“Given how things turned out, I suppose that decision was a mistake.”

“But you didn’t have many options. Albert and I even Killian wanted to help you, but we had no power back then.”

A shadow of sorrow crossed Pamela’s face, as if recalling those helpless feelings.

Yet Mirabelle was simply glad to know Pamela had felt that way. Even now, traces of that uncertainty lingered in her heart, but at least she knew her friends had cared for her even in those bleakest times.

“That’s all in the past now. I’m looking forward to the rest of my life.”

So Mirabelle deliberately smiled as she said it hoping to spare Pamela any further worry over bygone days.

“True. We can’t change the past, so we should focus on enjoying the future.”

Perhaps sensing Mirabelle’s intent, Pamela nodded in agreement.

Then, as if struck by a sudden thought, she shifted the topic.

“Still, so many women struggle in their marriages. I almost feel guilty, being as fortunate as I am.”

Pamela’s husband was the heir to a ducal house. Their relationship was considered strong among the nobility, where political marriages were common. They even had a son to carry on the lineage from the outside, she seemed to have everything. Of course, Mirabelle doubted it was entirely without hardship.

“Are there really that many women with such troubles?”

“Oh, yes. Infidelity is the least of it, many are financially trapped. But divorce is so difficult in this kingdom, isn’t it? They endure their situations because they have no other choice.”

In the Kingdom of Esperanza, only the head of a household could control its assets. Women were allotted only what the head permitted meaning it was all too easy for a husband to control his wife through money.

“Without assets, divorce would leave them unable to survive. Even if they return to their parents’ home, they’d just be married off again or sent to a convent. And if they don’t go back, they’d have to work but what jobs are there for noblewomen? In the end, they have no choice but to endure and obey.”

Pamela let out a heavy sigh.

“Are there many women in your circle facing such circumstances?”

“It’s a frequent topic at tea parties. The fact that it comes up so often means there must be a great many barely holding on.”

Given the social standing of a duchess’s gatherings, every lady present would normally mind her words carefully. Complaints about one’s household shouldn’t be aired so openly yet if the subject kept arising, it suggested just how desperate many women truly were.

“Recently, a countess came to me for advice.”

The name Pamela mentioned belonged to a woman they had known reasonably well during their academy days.

“Her husband flaunts his affairs shamelessly. On top of that, he leaves all household matters to her yet gives her only the bare minimum budget to maintain her position as countess. It’s utterly appalling.”

“I see…”

(Compared to that, I’m fortunate getting a clean divorce and even securing work.)

At least Ricardo had been willing to pay what amounted to alimony. Though she couldn’t return to her family home, Mirabelle felt far better off than the women Pamela described.

(Refusing that money must seem arrogant from their perspective.)

Even if it had been an act of self-preservation.

(Still isn’t the root of all this simply that women’s status is too low?)

As she mused vaguely, a knock came at the parlor door.

“Mirabel, there’s some confusion about the documents you submitted yesterday. I hate to interrupt, but could you spare a moment to clarify?”

Albert stepped inside after receiving permission. The documents in question likely pertained to the textile business.

“Of course. Pamela, I shouldn’t be long. Will you be all right waiting?”

“Certainly. I’ll chat with Albert in the meantime.”

With Pamela’s assurance, Mirabelle left the room. The parlor was on the third floor of the trading company. The first floor housed the shop, the second the clerks’ offices.

Even if Pamela insisted it was fine, Mirabelle didn’t want to keep her waiting. With that in mind, she quickened her pace downstairs.